Volume Contour

Use this function to calculate masses between two application layers. The layers must be defined as layers.

Where do I find the dialog?

On the toolbar in terrain model drawing, select the icon Volume contour...

After inserting the command, we find it again in the command list.

Volume contour dialog

Before we can insert the command, we must have a polygon that delimits the area we want to calculate. In many cases, it is natural to use the boundary contour in one of the layers we want to calculate between, but the polygon can also lie in another layer.

The volume contour command uses the integral method. This is described in more detail in the general help.

Warning

Any interventions (road bodies or excavations) in the drawing will adjust the layers' grids and thus affect the mass calculation. It may therefore be a good rule to have a separate drawing with volume contours.

Calculate between two layers

In the dropdown menus, we select the layers between which we want to calculate cut and fill masses. We have cutting when layer 2 (red in the figure) is lower than layer 1 (green in the figure).

Figure: A = Cut, B = Fill, C = Boundary contour

We also have the option to adjust the grid of layer 1. The grid in the adjustable layer will then become equal to the grid in layer 2. We also have the option to control what should be adjusted by setting Intervention type. Intervention type tells what should be adjusted within the area (whole, cut or fill).

Intervention type: Cut

Figure: A = Fill

When do we use integral check?

We can use integral check to calculate masses for areas with integrals less than a given threshold value. In the field, we enter threshold value in meters. Calculated volume for this item is included in total cut volume. The function can for example be used to calculate blast removal.

Figure: A = Cut, B = Limit for integral check

Calculate polygon against all layers

If the polygon defines a plane (horizontal or sloped), we can calculate masses between this and all layers in the drawing.

We can also select intervention type, that is, calculate both cut and fill, or just cut, or just fill. In the example below, we will not get cut calculated even though the boundary contour allows for it.

Example - Intervention type: Fill

Figure: A = Fill

In addition, we can also divide the calculation into intervals. This can be useful, among other things, when calculating reservoirs, where you for example want to calculate all regulated heights from 0 to 30 meters with a height interval of 10 cm.

Figure: A = Start height, B = End height, C = Fill, D = Interval

Intervention number in the mass report is the height in cm.

Example of mass report

Group: 1

***********

Polygon volume

Interv.no.  m2 total   m2 fill    m2 cut      m3 fill     m3 cut.lay1

----------------------------------------------------------------------

    nnnn   nnnnnnn.n         0.0          0.0          0.0          0.0

    nnnn   nnnnnnn.n      nnnnn.n         0.0     nnnnnn.n         0.0

    nnnn   nnnnnnn.n      nnnnn.n         0.0     nnnnxx.n         0.0

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Total      nnnnnnnn.n   nnnnnnn.n         0.0   nnnnnnn.n         0.0

======================================================================

Tip

The data in the text report is also placed on the clipboard. This means you can paste it directly into for example Excel (Edit - Paste).

How to perform the calculation?

On the Tools menu we find the following options:

1. Calculate masses
2. Show integrals
3. Show integrals + save vector file

With Show integrals we get the different mass types displayed on screen. The grid density is as defined in the Drawing settings dialog.

Visualization of mass calculation